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PORT ELIZABETH - Ernie Els ended a 12-month title drought by securing a three-shot victory at the South African Open today after a sparkling final round.
South Africa's Els, who last won at the Dunhill Championship a year ago, fired a closing 65 after starting the day three shots behind countryman Trevor Immelman.
Els collected his 62nd title as a professional and his fourth SA Open with a superb display of attacking, but controlled golf on a blustery day at the Humewood Golf Club.
His 24-under 264 was a record winning total at the tournament, surpassing the previous best of 21-under by Tony Johnstone in 1993 (Els was second on that occasion) while victory ensured that he has won at least once every year since 1992.
"That's as good as I can play probably," Els said. "Under the circumstances I was chasing the first couple of holes and then I was in the lead and then I had to protect the lead and be aggressive. There were a lot of different emotions going on today.
"I view the South African Open like I do a major, and that' how I played this week."
Immelman battled with his putter all day after shooting a course record 63 in the third round, and could only manage a round of 71 to end on 21-under and sole possession of second place.
Sweden's Patrik Sjoland was in third on 20-under after shooting 67.
Els wiped out the deficit by the sixth hole following birdies at the par-four second, the par-four fifth and the tricky par-three sixth.
He made a birdie from six-feet on the second, and then hit his approach to two-feet on the fifth leaving an easy birdie putt. On the sixth his tee shot ended one-foot from the hole.
Immelman missed the green on the sixth and failed to up-and-down from a deep greenside bunker, which saw a two-shot swing as Immelman dropped to 19-under. That gave Els the outright lead of the tournament for the first time.
"I think I coped well. I played safe with a three-wood off the tee and aggressively with my iron shots. When I won a lot of tournaments that's the way I played," added Els.
"I didn't know if I had much of a chance the way Trevor played yesterday evening, but I was on the range yesterday evening and I found something in my swing.
"I was glad to see a little bit of breeze because you had to more on your game to get birdies.
"I started well and Trevor didn't make any putts, I made the putts and hit some good shots. My plan was to try and draw level through nine holes but as it turned out I was two ahead through nine."
- REUTERS
